YO Info™ is the American Academy of Ophthalmology's newsletter for young ophthalmologists (YOs) — those in training as well as in their first few years in practice.

This newsletter provides YOs with information about practice management, coding and insurance questions, balancing work and family, and many other issues relevant to YOs. You'll also learn more about resources and services that are already available to you from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE).

Practice ManagementJob-Seeker’s Guide to the Joint Meeting
Few things are more stressful than leaving the safety of higher education and joining the work force. Equally stressful is making the decision to switch jobs or move from private practice to academia, academia to a large practice, or any variation in between. The Academy knows this and is prepared to help you navigate your way through the process of finding a job. During this year’s Joint Meeting in Chicago (Oct. 16 to 19), you’ll find a myriad of courses, resources, and programs to help you find (and land!) the job of your dreams.

FeaturesEyeWiki and You: YOs Take the Lead on New Online Encyclopedia
While most people are familiar with Wikipedia, many are not aware that it is but one of many “wikis” — online encyclopedias open to anyone to create, add to and edit reference work. As of this month, those ranks are joined by the EyeWiki, a new ophthalmologic wiki project sponsored by the Academy, in close collaboration with several subspecialty and specialized interest societies. What makes the EyeWiki unique is that the material created within it is entirely produced by ophthalmologists. And at the helm of that project are a number of young ophthalmologists.

YO Spotlight: Seven Questions for JoAnn A. Giaconi, MDThis month, we continue our new approach to YO Spotlights, periodic profiles of you and your colleagues. Each featured YO is asked the same 10 questions, picking seven of them to answer. For our third profile, we talked to JoAnn Giaconi, MD. Dr. Giaconi is in her sixth year of practice, dividing her time between the Jules Stein Eye Institute in Los Angeles and the Veterans Administration, and specializes in glaucoma. She is a graduate of the Academy’s Leadership Development Program XI, Class of 2009, and currently serves on the Academy’s Ophthalmology Liaisons Committee and the Glaucoma Panel for the Practicing Ophthalmologists Curriculum.

NEW! Joint Meeting group: Wondering what your fellow YOs will be attending at the meeting, or what courses a first-time meeting attendee shouldn’t miss? Join the discussion in the Joint Meeting group. YO Info editorial board members, along with other contributors, will bring you lots of tips and recommendations you won’t find anywhere else.

Help Us Improve YO Info! Take Our Brief Survey
We’re doing our first-ever reader survey, so whether you’re a first-time or long-time YO Info reader, would you answer seven questions for us? It should only take a couple minutes, but will help us tailor coverage to the needs and interests of our readers. Thanks! Take the survey.

Don’t Wait Too Long! Popular Meeting Courses Sell Fast
Meeting event, don’t wait too long before buying tickets. Small events (like the breakfasts, most of which are capped at nine participants) sell out fast.

Search the program – It’s easy to find events for YOs; just select “Endorsed by Young Ophthalmologist Committee” from the Special Interest dropdown menu

Master Key Financial-Management Concepts with ‘Profitable Practice’ Collection
A recent survey revealed that residency graduates are surprised, most of all, by the financial management and business issues they encountered upon starting a practice. To bridge this knowledge gap, the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE), the practice management arm of the Academy, has developed The Profitable Practice Collection, a set of seven concise ophthalmology-specific modules to help you master key financial management concepts easier.

Featured Academy Resource:Extended Wear of Contact Lenses
As a service to its members and the public, the Academy has developed a variety of guidelines and policy statements related to quality eye care. YO Info will regularly include a link to a PPP, policy statement or other resource to help familiarize young ophthalmologists with these important resources.